Improvements to 56th Street, Temple Heights Road Approved

Residents should expect to see improvements along 56th Street and Temple Heights Road in the coming months.

At their meeting Tuesday evening, the City Council approved resolutions awarding , similar to improvements that have already been completed on 56th Street from Bullard Parkway south to Riverhills Drive.

The council first awarded a $296,737.64 contract to Tampa Bay Construction and Engineering Inc. to construct improvements to 56th Street from Riverhills Drive to Temple Heights Road.

“This is kind of a completion of our 56th Street project,” City Manager Kim Leinbach told council members before they voted.

The city estimated the work would cost $340,927 and budgeted $375,000. Once the project is complete, the area will have:

• radial walls at the remaining corners (northeast, northwest and southwest) at Bullard and 56th Street
• radial walls northwest and southeast of Riverhills Drive and 56th Street
• three bus shelters
• improvements to prevent damage to retaining walls along the west side
• six benches
• three bike racks
• three trash receptacles
• new landscaping

Next, the council awarded a $569,110.20 contract to Valleycrest Landscape Development Inc. to construct streetscape improvements to Temple Heights Road from the western city limit to 56th Street.

“This is a federal enhancement project,” Leinbach explained. “It’s totally federally-funded. The city has no money in it from our local coffers, you might say.”

The project consists of a new entryway marker.

“This is a goal of the council to have our entryway features—which have been—frankly the one on 56th and the river has been well received,” Leinbach said. “This is one that we’ll put on the entryway on Temple Heights coming to our city.”

Once the project is complete, the area will also have:

• three bus landing pads
• four textured intersections
• six terracotta crosswalks
• 31 decorative pedestrian lights similar to 56th Street
• decorative concrete sidewalk
• new landscaping

“This kind of ties Temple Heights into the improvements we’ve made on 56th to continue that theme throughout the city,” Leinbach said. “So it should be of great benefit to our city.”

Also during the meeting:

• Mayor Joe Affronti proclaimed Oct. 9-15 as Fire Prevention Week, and reminded citizens that the Temple Terrace Fire Department will have an on Oct. 8.

• Affronti also recognized former mayor , who died on Sept. 19 at the age of 97.

“He was very dedicated to our city, and I just want to recognize him,” Affronti said. “And we wish the best for his family and comfort them through these tough times.”